Underwater Santa Kelan Gondrezick greets the crowd at Silverton hotel and casino in Las Vegas, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018. He and the Christmas mermaid are in the aquarium every Saturday and Sunday in December from 12 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. Rachel Aston Las Vegas Review-Journal @rookie__rae

Christmas mermaid Logan Halverson blows a kiss to Matvay Sokolov, 6, at Silverton hotel and casino in Las Vegas, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018. She and Santa are in the aquarium every Saturday and Sunday in December from 12 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. Rachel Aston Las Vegas Review-Journal @rookie__rae

Underwater Santa Kelan Gondrezick greets the crowd at Silverton hotel and casino in Las Vegas, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018. He and the Christmas mermaid are in the aquarium every Saturday and Sunday in December from 12 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. Rachel Aston Las Vegas Review-Journal @rookie__rae

Christmas mermaid Logan Halverson greets children at Silverton hotel and casino in Las Vegas, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018. She and Santa are in the aquarium every Saturday and Sunday in December from 12 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. Rachel Aston Las Vegas Review-Journal @rookie__rae

Alyssa Kim, 2, has her photo taken as Underwater Santa Kelan Gondrezick greets the crowd at Silverton hotel and casino in Las Vegas, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018. He and the Christmas mermaid are in the aquarium every Saturday and Sunday in December from 12 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. Rachel Aston Las Vegas Review-Journal @rookie__rae

Underwater Santa and the Christmas mermaid greet the crowd at Silverton hotel and casino in Las Vegas, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018. They are in the aquarium every Saturday and Sunday in December from 12 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. Rachel Aston Las Vegas Review-Journal @rookie__rae

Kelan Gondrezick positions himself at the front of the aquarium, in full view of the audience, wearing a classic Santa suit and beard as bubbles rise above him. Children gaze up at the soggy spectacle or line up by a Santa’s helper to tell him what they want for Christmas.

Each weekend in December, the underwater Santa takes photos with guests and hears Christmas-wish lists from children outside the aquarium for 2 1/2-hour shifts at the Silverton.

Gondrezick, of southwest Las Vegas, is the star of the show.

Gondrezick, a professional commercial diver, took the role as the mall’s sole Santa as a second job. His first is owning Las Vegas-based Blue Locker Commercial Diving Services LLC.

He started the Santa job two weeks ago, describing it as “surreal.”

Santa always has a “helper,” dressed as an elf, who passes out candy canes as dozens of children line up to relay their wish lists to Santa. The helper chats with children and hands them a microphone so Santa can hear their wish lists while he’s underwater.

Children ask for bunnies, puppies, Xboxes and toys. Santa often responds, between deep breaths, with “I’ll talk to my elves and see what we can do,” or “I’ll put that on my list.”

With a baby girl of his own, Gondrezick said he appreciates witnessing the smiles on children’s faces and seeing families together during the holidays.